Senseless tree box hazard in Chinatown

The barren tree box pictured below is in front of 513 H Street NW. The combination of the iron steps from the rowhouse and the treebox effectively narrow the passable segment of sidewalk down to roughly 2 feet wide.

Barren treebox narrows sidewalk in front of 513 H Street NW

I’ve seen pedestrians trip in this area on numerous occasions as they weren’t expecting the sidewalk to inexplicably choke down to near nothingness. Last year during the National Night Out walk with MPD, Miles Groves tipped his segway and fell over trying to navigate this narrowing path. I’m failing to see how preserving this dirt box is worth the issues it causes.

The Downtown BID should brick off this tree box as it is a hazard with no redeeming value. If the BID want to ensure that there remains one tree box on this segment of streetscaping then shifting the box a few dozen feet east in front of Full Kee where sidewalk space isn’t competing with stairs makes more sense.

Comments

I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve fallen into this useless hole on H Street. This very spot is also where the ‘bus people’ gather to block the sidwalk as they prepare for their cat-fights to secure a seat to NYC, but that’s another story… LOL!

The 2nd location of Capitol Hemp just opened next door to Full Kee and I believe their front door is right in front of this hole atop the staircase pictured. Perhaps they will work with the BID to get this eyesore fixed.

Thank you for raising this issue. I’ve never actually tripped on this site, but I walk by it once or twice a day and must often wait for people coming in the other direction to have cleared this narrow pathway before I can take my turn. As Tony noted, the area is also frequently choked with people waiting for the bus, which only makes it worse. On a number of occasions, I’ve had to walk into the street to get past this thing. I’m surprised no one’s been hit by a bus trying to do the same thing.

Ditto! I have tripped on the bricks or the utility cover several times. While I am a huge fan of street trees (I have participated in the Casey Tree plantings in the neighborhood), this tree box needs to go – or at least be relocated somewhere there aren’t any steps with easements protruding into the public space of the sidewalk.

the description belongs to you, and other new urbainist sycophants who are so anti public right of way as to not protect such against bloated development pinching the BIKE PATH along the Metro Branch corridor with that Elevation 314 project that fails basic safety common sense for placing dwellings next to and lower than a heavy freight line.

you’re right doug, how could i be so foolish! i forgot all about the masons and how they control the world through their mind control ray. i need to go put my tinfoil hat back on (shiny side out!) so they can’t reach my brain!

Get blog posts by email

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

How often do you want to receive emails?

Less often

More often

Your Blog Host

Thais Austin has lived in the Mount Vernon Triangle since 2006 with her dog Davis. She is an active community volunteer with the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association, Mount Vernon Triangle CID, and with the DC Association of REALTORS. She brings to the blog a background in journalism, urban planning, and real estate and development. She is a REALTOR with Long and Foster, officing out of both Logan Circle and Bethesda Gateway locations and can be contacted at thais@lnf.com.